Proposed School Board policies discourage Facebook use

Two proposed School Board policies would discourage teachers from engaging students on social media networks.

By Jackie AlexanderStaff writer

Talia Rogers, a middle school math teacher at the Horizon Center, had a student find her heavily protected Facebook profile and send a friend request.

"Honestly, I blocked her and didn't acknowledge it (later in class)," she said.

Two proposed School Board policies would discourage teachers from engaging students on social media networks without administrative approval and prohibit teachers from commenting about or posting video of students.

The policies were proposed during a February workshop meeting just one week after a Pennsylvania teacher was suspended for calling her students "disengaged, lazy whiners" in a blog.

The School Board will hold two readings and a public hearing before voting on the proposed social-media policies.

Experts say schools should use the incident in Pennsylvania as a way to educate teachers about the advantages and perils of an increasingly social world.

School Board vice chair April Griffin said during the meeting that she thinks Facebook could be a great way for teachers to engage students.

"I think it could be a good thing," she said. "We kind of have to evolve with the times."

But with social media, common sense tends to leave the building, said Carol Oyenarte.

"They're really dealing with this on the secondary level," she said.

Rogers said she likes her personal and teaching lives separate.

"I've told students that I will not be their friend on Facebook while they are in my class or at my school," she said. "I think they have a very good sense of who I am, that I love them, but I don't think they have to have the deepest look into my life."

At times, she's refrained from posting views on controversial topics, because information posted online can be found, Rogers said.

"I am a public servant. I'm careful about what I say in general," she said. "I make sure that I cover up extra when I'm going to the mall because I might see one of them (her students)."

"We just randomly checked some pages to see and some didn't realize that pictures of being at parties and at bars were inappropriate," she said.

Hollinger says the district e-mails a reminder at the beginning of the year alerting teachers to be cautious while using social media.

Philadelphia-area high school English teacher Natalie Munroe was suspended with pay after a student notified her school about a blog that included descriptions of her students as "out of contol," "rat-like" and "frightfully dim."

According to the Associated Press, Munroe didn't identify herself or students on the blog she started for friends and family.

Christopher Sessums, a University of Florida associate professor in the area of educational technology, said guidelines that could evolve with social media would better serve teachers and stakeholders alike.

"Policies that focus on social networking in schools need to acknowledge that schools do have legal and ethical responsibilities for serving and protecting children, teachers, parents and administrators," he said. "These policies need to spell out expectations for behavior that all stakeholders deem appropriate."

Sessums said that, although people generally want to believe there is a separation between their professional and personal lives, the fact is that teachers have a certain responsibility as public figures.

The Lee County School Board's social media policy and guidelines are four pages long and inform teachers that even comments about items other than the district could lead to professional repercussions.

"While the use of these sites is becoming commonplace, it is important that you remember to conduct yourself in an appropriate manner to avoid any unintended situations that could adversely affect your professional standing with the District," according to the policy. "These guidelines are not intended to restrict your participation but rather to provide some protection if you choose to engage in online activities."

Sessums said the Alachua County School Board is doing the right thing to adopt a policy that serves students.

"I think it would provide a great place for us to build a better understanding of how to use these tools as opposed to shutting them down," he said.